Ever felt uninspired by those sleek modern designs, all shiny surfaces and predictable patterns? Welcome to the club. If you’re dreaming of something more grounded (furniture and fittings with texture, gravitas, and a little attitude), look no further than concrete.
Concrete isn’t just for industrial lofts anymore. It’s a hugely versatile material that can bring warmth, depth, and a little rugged charm to any space. Whether you’re after statement-making basins or a bold dining table, concrete brings a tactile sophistication that’s hard to beat.
At Sticks & Stone Co., we’re all about bringing the best of concrete furniture and fittings into your home. Handcrafted to last, our pieces combine form and function in timeless designs.
Whether you’re renovating a bathroom, kitchen, or just want to add a little wow factor to your outdoor area, our range has you covered.
Ready to discover the beauty of concrete? Let’s go.
Table of Contents
- Why Concrete Is the Material of Choice in Modern Design
- Concrete Basins That Redefine Everyday Luxury
- Concrete Benchtops for Kitchens & Bathrooms
- Statement Concrete Tables for Indoors & Out
- Bringing It All Together: Designing with Concrete Across Spaces
- Concrete as the Future of Functional Design
Why Concrete Is the Material of Choice in Modern Design
Concrete used to be raw. Industrial. Brash in its brutality. But in recent years, we’ve seen the underdog of building materials shoot to fame for its cool factor. Not just in architecture but also in interior design. Concrete is no longer seen as a default, purely functional material. Rather, it’s being embraced and celebrated by homeowners and designers alike.
Designers and architects are constantly on the lookout for materials that give them both creative and structural freedom. And when it comes to both, concrete is second to none. Concrete is one of the most versatile materials on the planet, able to be cast into almost any shape you can think of. It is also one of the strongest materials available to us. This means that it can be used as benchtops, sinks, and wet areas.
At Sticks & Stone Co., we pride ourselves in bringing out the best in concrete. Each piece is handmade to celebrate concrete’s natural movement, its grain, how it dances with light, and its slight imperfections. Concrete is also becoming a more sustainable option, with the advent of lightweight, sustainable GFRC (Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete). GFRC uses up to 40% less cement (the carbon-intensive part of concrete) and a higher volume of recycled content, including aggregates and glass fibre reinforcement.
GFRC is also lighter, stronger, and less dense than traditional concrete, which has a myriad of benefits. But, most importantly, it still looks like concrete and feels like concrete. In fact, it has a surprisingly soft and luxurious feel to it, which is why we love working with it so much at Sticks & Stone Co.
The old saying about concrete being cold and hard simply doesn’t ring true today. There are endless ways to manipulate concrete and completely transform how it looks and feels. Polished to a smooth, satin finish, or even enhanced by a lightly exposed aggregate to highlight the raw and natural organicness of the material.
Concrete Basins That Redefine Everyday Luxury
Concrete basins suit the humble, functional bathroom as well as they do the high-end, design-led one. This natural, subtly textured material pairs well with anything from traditional ceramics and timber vanity units to shiny metals and marble surfaces.
At home in relaxed, everyday interiors, the concrete basin is hard-wearing and easy to clean while remaining a tactile, considered addition to a room. In higher-end interiors, the sculptural quality of a concrete basin with its softer edges and gentle imperfections gives a nod to handcrafted design.
The shape, finish and styling you choose can turn the everyday chore of washing up into a purposeful little luxury moment.
Pedestal Basins as Sculptural Centrepieces
Pedestal basins demand attention and immediately elevate a simple bathroom necessity into a sculptural piece of interest. Available in full-height, where the pedestal extends from the floor to the basin in one seamless structure, they create an imposing, architectural silhouette. This bold, minimalist design is at home in high-ceilinged or spacious bathrooms, grounding the space and allowing the basin itself to become the centrepiece.
Lighter materials and finishes on other bathroom furniture and accessories (timber vanities, slimline metal or chrome finishes, or muted or neutral tiles) can offset the weight of the concrete to prevent the space from feeling overly heavy. In more luxurious or dramatic interiors, subtle wall lighting or a statement mirror can enhance their sculptural form, framing the basin as a piece of functional art.
Half-height pedestal basins create a lighter, more airy feel, while still bringing the visual and textural interest of concrete into the space. Perfect for small bathrooms or powder rooms, by lifting the basin higher off the floor they reveal more of the room underneath. This can open the door to incorporating more patterns, textures, or warmer materials into the design, whether in the form of timber, patterned tiles, or contrasting paint colours. They can be complemented by open shelving or a textured backsplash to add visual interest without detracting from the tactile, natural elegance of the concrete itself.
They work well with metallic taps, natural stone, greenery, and soft textiles to create a layered, curated look. Whether in a practical everyday bathroom or a spa-like luxury space, they show that even the most functional fixtures can make a striking design statement.
The Minimalist Appeal of Round Concrete Basins
Oval or round concrete basins can offer a softer, more nuanced addition to the bathroom. They can provide a sense of proportion that’s less formal or rigid than a rectangular, top-filling basin - the gentle curves of these basins can make your bathroom look more approachable and inviting, without compromising on style.
Practically speaking, the round shape makes a versatile option that can work in a range of bathroom types, from compact powder rooms to larger ensuite spaces. Round or shallow, oval basins can work well in a family or guest bathroom, where they cut down on splashback but still retain an air of luxury. On the design side, while the general shape and size of the basin are important, the finish also plays a role in the overall style.
Concrete is a tactile material, so how it catches the light and interacts with water and surrounding surfaces can add visual interest and dimension to your bathroom. Matching a round concrete basin with an asymmetrical vanity, a statement wall-mounted tap or natural timber benchtop can play up the organic qualities of the concrete and provide a visual balance to the curves of the basin with the sharper lines in the space.
For those with more expansive bathrooms or an eye for luxury design, vessel concrete basins can also work well as a design feature on a thin console table or a freestanding concrete benchtop. The smooth curves are especially in keeping with spa-inspired aesthetics, and might be paired with curved mirrors, a freestanding tub, or other stone elements with a fluid form to make the bathroom feel harmonious and relaxing.
How to Style Concrete Basins in Bathrooms & Powder Rooms
Styling a concrete basin is an exercise in subtlety and nuance. Soft textured towels in washed-out greys, pale pinks, or earthy colours; a trailing plant or simply a vase of fresh flowers can bring in natural elements, colour, and texture. Rectangular basins have a neat and structured aesthetic, and they work well when combined with linear vanities and rectangular tiles. You can introduce some contrast and soften the hard lines with layered textures such as timber shelving or stone benchtops, or through careful alignment with other linear elements like a mirror or shelving units.
Warm metals such as brushed brass or matte black for faucetware or towel racks can also be used to emphasise the form and lines of the basin. Small accessories like a ceramic tray, a soap dispenser, or a candle can add a sense of the curated without veering into fussiness. Half-moon basins have a more organic, gentle curvature to them. This makes them feel lighter and more intimate, lending a softer touch to powder rooms or small vanity areas. To emphasise this softness, style the space with small potted plants, folded towels, or gentle lighting that draws attention to the warm, natural hues in the concrete.
Concrete Benchtops for Kitchens & Bathrooms
Concrete benchtops have a very calming effect; they create a seamless finish, especially if they are continuous and connect various elements of your kitchen or bathroom. The natural tones and textures of concrete are also very easy to match and coordinate with timber, stone, or metal, for example, which gives the space a tactile, homely feel. If finished well, the surface is also pleasant to the touch and may even appear smooth while retaining some of the texture and character, which is a very humanising detail and differentiates concrete from other finishes.
Interior designers also use concrete because of its durability. It is a very hard-wearing material that is resistant to scratching, heat, and moisture as long as it is sealed well. As such, it can be suitable for high-traffic areas or high-use applications while still providing a quality and high-end look and feel.
Concrete benchtops also require very minimal maintenance; if wiped regularly with a soft cloth and mild cleaning product, along with the application of sealer every few years, it will look as good as new for a long time and is guaranteed to develop a nice patina over the years.
Statement Concrete Tables for Indoors & Out
Concrete tables are immediately striking in a space: Their sheer size, weight and even the texture of the material draw attention to themselves. A dining table, coffee table or even an outdoor table will immediately become the focal point of a room. They offer an accessible, tactile, almost organic quality to the space and lend an aesthetic that's simultaneously sleek and modern, casual and easygoing.
To style them, contrast is the key. Cushions, houseplants, bowls or other accessories in warm or earthy tones will help the surface to feel used, loved, and welcoming.
Concrete Dining Tables that Anchor the Space
A concrete dining table has an atmosphere you can sense as soon as you walk in. It’s rooted, solid, quietly imposing - the sort of thing that causes people to congregate, pause and linger. Indoors, it plays well with almost any decor: sleek or collected, open or intimate. The same table top is versatile enough to host both morning coffee mugs and dinner parties with friends, yet its soft texture and earthy hues are more warm than cold, functional and with a je ne sais quoi chic.
Outside, that substance transforms into an expansiveness of another sort. An outdoor custom concrete table can brave sun, rain and wind without complaint, allowing you to concentrate on the people gathered around it rather than on its surface. It’s big enough for alfresco dinners and weekend breakfasts, yet its sculptural shape keeps the area intentional, not makeshift. Concrete is malleable to scale, setting and style: whether paired with pared-back chairs in a tiny city balcony, or decked with loungers and lanterns in an expansive garden.
The Modern Charm of Concrete Coffee Tables
One of the things that make concrete coffee tables such a great choice is that they work so well with a wide variety of other materials. Warm wood, woven textures, soft upholstery and polished metals bounce off of the solidity of the concrete to make spaces feel layered, human and lived-in. In the outdoors, the options multiply. Envision a cafe courtyard with concrete tables and benches less than a metre tall, paired with rattan chairs and cushions in bright hues, vines tumbling from planters, and the neutral, hard surfaces softening and balancing the warmth, pattern and verdancy of plant life.
Concrete also invites play. A small round coffee table can be a pedestal for plants or a tray of morning pastries; a long slab can support stacks of art books, lanterns and bottles, or become an emergency workstation. Concrete is heavy enough and textured enough that it can ground a space without overpowering it; the neutral colours provide a nuanced background for colour, texture and movement to pop off against.
Indoors and out, in an intimate lounge or a communal area with a bit of bustle, concrete coffee tables show that functional and stylish don’t have to be at odds – the spaces and moments that they shape can be dynamic, thoughtful, approachable and distinctly modern.
Bringing It All Together: Designing with Concrete Across Spaces
Concrete styling also calls upon the “must know” fundamentals of industrial design: exposed textures, raw materials, and simple geometric forms. By incorporating natural fibres, metals, and plants with concrete, you can balance its natural weight with soft, natural elements, while still maintaining a grounded, tactile space. The adaptability of the material allows for a cohesive palette or similar surface types across a range of rooms, from bathrooms and kitchens to indoor and outdoor living areas, without being too heavy-handed.
Concrete is a popular material because it’s also more sustainable. When sourced with care and combined with a long-term view of your home’s design, concrete furniture can also minimise the carbon footprint of your home, creating functional, long-lasting pieces that support more sustainable living.
Applied with care, concrete can turn everyday spaces into interiors that are cohesive, flexible and beautiful, showing that even a single material, with considered application, can bring together practical function, refined style and conscious design.
Concrete as the Future of Functional Design
Concrete offers a harmony of strength, form and function that few other building materials can. We love concrete for the sculptural possibilities it presents; the ways bold, robust surfaces can characterise a space and give it a sense of permanence and style. Natural textures and finishes allow it to be both striking and subdued, working in sleek, minimalist interiors, as well as layered, opulent ones.
But concrete is also a material that can really shape the way a room is felt and lived in. The density and scale of concrete, as well as the tactility of it, ground a room, influences how you move around a space and provides surfaces that are built to last. From tables that become the hero of a room, to large benchtops that make an otherwise fragmented kitchen read as one piece, concrete turns every surface it touches into a design statement with staying power.
Browse our gallery for some concrete ideas or get in touch to talk about creating bespoke pieces for your space that really make an impact.